New NFL Season: 49% Of Games On Streaming, 7% Exclusively

by Wayne Friedman , September 6, 2024

Half of all NFL games this season -- 133 -- will be available on streaming platforms -- virtually all on a non-exclusive basis, according to MoffettNathanson Research.

Just 7% -- or 20 games -- will be available exclusively on national distributed direct-to-consumer platforms, largely on Amazon Prime Video, including one wildcard playoff game. Linear TV networks will have 42% (114 games) of all NFL games on an exclusive basis.

Looking at last season’s viewership, Fox Television Network's Sunday NFL games coverage tied CBS Television Network with a 27% share of all regular-season viewing minutes among persons two years of age and older.

ABC/ESPN’s “Monday Night Football” had a 20% share, followed by NBC’s “Sunday Night Football” at a 17% share. Amazon Prime Video "Thursday Night Football" had a 9% share.

Linear TV networks simulcasting games with streaming platforms were NBC (Peacock) and CBS (Paramount+). Those remaining exclusive to linear TV platforms were Fox and ABC/ESPN.

Regular-season ratings were up 10% to 18.7 million. (The season before, it was 16.9 million)

Analyzing the individual NFL network packages, ABC/ESPN’s “Monday Night Football” posted the best overall results -- up 45% to 20.3 million, according to Nielsen.

Disney’s ABC/ESPN benefited from summer strike issues that spilled over into the fall of 2023. Because of less scripted and non-scripted entertainment programming, Disney shifted “MNF” games to ABC to be simulcast with ESPN.

NBCU’s “Sunday Night Football” was 5% better to 19.3 million. CBS’s NFL coverage inched up 1% to 18.2 million; Fox NFL coverage slipped 1% to 18.1 million.

Completing its second season on Amazon Prime Video, “Thursday Night Football” scored a major bump -- 22% more to average 11.7 million. Still, in the 2021-2022 season “TNF” on Fox averaged 15.1 million.

This story has been updated.

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2 comments about "New NFL Season: 49% Of Games On Streaming, 7% Exclusively".

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Darrin Stephens from McMann & Tate, September 6, 2024 at 4:14 p.m.
Sorry, but zero games are exclusive to Streaming. Broadcast simulcasts will air in the competing teams' home markets.
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Ben B from Retired, September 7, 2024 at 12:13 a.m.

I think secondary markets should get to air the games not just the home team market I feel that Amazon Prime Video TNF Lions VS Packers last year & this year Dec, 5 should be on a local TV station in my opinion, I'll miss that game, and will watch late night on NFL Network which should also be aired live as TNF is a flop on Amazon Prime Video just like that Wild Card game on Peacock and this year on Amazon Prime. As I have said many times I don't believe the spin from the NFL and sports in general about the numbers when it comes to streaming which is a flop, go ahead and spin it I'll never believe it.